Holiday World

Reid's Orchard play day

Kate attended a birthday party a couple of weeks ago at Reid's and I scouted it to see if it was a place we could take Jack and let him run, semi-free.  The weather was so wonderful over break, and it was so nice to have Matt around that after Jack's nap, we headed out to see what we could get in to.  Kate had eaten the whole bag of apples from the last time and she was begging for more.  Jack and Kate absolutely loved the corn crib and playing together.  Kate would have preferred playing on the slides most of the time, but Jack wanted her to help him with the dump trucks in the corn.  

 Jack and Kate played in the apple barrels and Jack could even get them moving by himself.

 The bouncy cows threw Jack each time he got on them, but the Dude was determined to get a ride!

falling for fall break

We usually don't travel for fall break because we like the weather here.  This year, I was a little sad we weren't going anywhere, but we have enjoyed being home together and playing...with no schedule.  It has been nice to have Matt home more and both kids have really liked having him watch everything they are doing...

Fall break began with Kate begging to spend the night with MOM.  I mean begging.  So, she won.  She sent me a Happy Halloween video.

 Jack's therapy is across town near a park we hardly ever visit.  I forget how easy it is and how many pieces are "Jack size."  So, we have been going there more, thanks to his appointments.

 I savor these moments.  Dude likes to hang in the mornings and just watch TV.  It doesn't have to be his show, but he prefers it to be.  He has become quite a cuddlier, and I can't get enough of these moments.

 This jack-o-lantern shirt was Kate's.  It is a little short, but I wanted to see him in it.  What a sweetie!

 We visited Smothers Park on Sunday after eating dinner at the new pizza place.  The restaurant put an ad for free garlic knots on FB...and I couldn't resist.  What a beautiful night for the park, too.  I love family time.

 Just a-swingin'

 Kate is a ham!  She wanted me to take action shots (on my iPhone) of her jumping off something at the park.  We did a bunch of them, giggling every time at her facial expressions.

 Back to the new, old park before therapy.  Gorgeous fall weather.

 My mom went out of town and we kept Norman.  He loves the fall weather, too.

 And we started harvesting some of the carrots.  Kate's carrots that she planted with Carrie when she came to visit.  I did not know carrots took so long to grow.  Nor did I know they were super dirty.

 Last night I had a great date night with my girl.  Last week at school, she had a day where she was not on the behavior chart where we liked (it had to do with her talking...imagine that).  I told her if she raised it two colors, she could have a treat over break.  When she got home that day, she was ecstatic because she raised it THREE colors, the highest she can go.  So, when I asked what she wanted, she wanted a pedicure.  We planned it for last night.  During the day, we went to Target where she scored a pair of Hello Kitty glitter ballet flats for $5.98.  She wanted to wear them last night, but I told her a pedicure would be ruined if she wore them.  So, instead, she changed to want a mani.  And while there, she wanted flowers.  What a funny girly girl!  Afterward, she wanted Mom to go with us to dinner at the Bistro.  She obliged and after, Kate hit the trifecta by getting Cold Stone Creamery for dessert.  A big night for a good girl!

We have enjoyed sleeping in, being lazy, having little adventures around town.  And we aren't finished.

Monday, September 30

This day was seared into my mind.  Matt and I were leaving to take Jack to Vanderbilt for his procedures.  Kate was left in good hands with my mom.  (I did worry a little about her hairstyles for school).  First up...kindergarten school pictures.  We fancied Kate up for school and off she went with a hug and a kiss from mama and Jack.  

 Matt and I loaded up, dropped Drake off at the Mason's, and off we went.  Traveling with Matt is always "fun," because we are never late.  Not ever.  Early.  Always early.  Like an hour and a half early.  To a hospital.  In a different town.  With a toddler who can't have anything to eat or drink.  So, we hit the park.  Jack was happy.  He didn't know where he was going next, so the park is always a fun event.

 A bridge to walk across with Daddy.  New things to do.

 We got to the hospital and checked in.  Had to be there two hours early.  We waited.  And waited.  And played with the new animal pac Grandma and Grandpa sent just for this occasion. And Jack cried.  Not a whimper.  Not a typical quick storm.  Nope, a big tantrum.  Hungry?  Check.  Thirsty?  Check.  Some strange man checking my vitals?  Check.  Forty-five minutes later, we were taken to the holding cell.  Sorry, I mean the pre-op staging area.

 This is what a tantrum looks like after an hour.  And having nothing to drink (since he doesn't eat) since 6 a.m. and it is now 3:30 p.m.

 We had pre-op with all of the docs (Anesthesiologist, GI, Pulminologist, and ENT).  They would each do his/her part and then come out to tell what they saw.  Biopsies and fluids would be tested and those results would come later.  Jack woke just in time for them to carry him to the OR for sedation.  Matt and I, with apprehension, hustled down to the cafeteria to grab a quick lunch/dinner because we needed to be back up to hear.  Each doctor said pretty much the same thing...all looks great, no abnormalities.  We waited for Jack to wake.  We went back to see him.  Still sleeping off meds and with his no-nos on so that he couldn't pull the Impedance probe out of his nose.

 Jack had no interest in waking.  Matt left to check us into the hotel and return.  I waited and chatted with yet another nurse.  All of the medical staff were amazing and so calming.  WHen Jack woke, he had to drink some apple juice so his pH level could be established.  Remembering that my mom said Kate had been teary a couple of times that day because she was worried about Jack, I FaceTimed her so she could see him (and me).  I put the phone close to Jack and Kate started singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.  Jack started to open his eyes.  He looked for her.  She was on the phone...happy.  We talked about his arms, his tube, etc. and Kate seemed more at ease.  Jack woke, drank, and off we went.

 Poor guy wanted to watch the TV in the car on the way to the hotel.  Of course I let him have the remote.

 He drank a Pedia Sure and then wanted to try out the sippy cup the hospital gave him.  We took his no-nos off, and he never grabbed at the probe.  We put them on to sleep, but in the middle of the night, he had another Pedia Sure and fell asleep on me without them on.  So, we left them off.

 The next day we walked around Nashville.  Jack with his tube and probe.  Since it is such a large medical community, many strangers stopped to ask what he had:  feeding tube, probe, etc.  Each were curious, not being mean.  And each had a friend who had a child that didn't/wouldn't eat.

 We went to the mall because we didn't have many options.  He didn't want to eat and he couldn't go to a park with the tubes.  He does not like malls much.

 At noon the tube was removed.  These are my two happy boys ready to go home and see Kate.

 Ahhhhhh, a Diet Coke makes it all better.

We are still waiting for some of the test results.  We are continuing therapy with Jack three times a week and he is off any reflux meds, which is promising.  BUT, we still have no answers for what is going on.  So. We. Wait.

Aunt Fran!

We were lucky that Fran had events in Owensboro to attend every other weekend for three weekends.  That meant six weeks that we got to see her off and on.  This makes Kate's heart smile.  I could bribe her in so many ways with what could happen with Frannie when she was in.  It was awesome.  :-) Kate got to have a slumber party, got to see Ashley when she came in to visit with Fran, and the last weekend, she got to bake with her as well.  

 Mom and Jack provided the musical entertainment for the party.

 Jack had to stop and practice yoga.

And then Aunt Fran told them they could go out and play in the rain.  Because that is what Aunts do (that mommies don't).